People Everywhere
It’s impossible to be a total hermit in NYC. Sure you could hide in your hovel and order Seamless while watching Netflix until the end of time, but even then you’d have to interact with the delivery person – and if you’re actually a participating member of society, you can’t go anywhere without being bombarded by a sea of unfamiliar faces. You walk out of your building and onto the sidewalk, and you’re instantly met with foot traffic like you’ve never seen in your suburban, car-driving cities. Instead of being a metal, faceless vehicle speeding down the people-barren streets, we’re all now bodies walking down the pedestrian-crowded sidewalks.
Unless of course, you’re like me and live a little off the main areas of the city – in which case, you have to walk a block or two to get to the street that’ll take you to the train that’ll lead you into the city – but even that street, at 5/6/7am, is more populated by pedestrians than any of the streets I would walk along in my little suburb of Miami; and that’s just the sidewalks. Now that you’re not driving – assuming you’re not one of those few that feel the need to own a vehicle in the city with one of the best public transportation systems in the country (more on that later) – you’ll be taking the subway a lot, along with thousands of other New Yorkers. You’ll meet an assorted collection of characters – from performers, to pariahs. You’ll see the old and decrepit, and the young and insipid. There’ll be those that’ll strike up conversations, and others that’ll glance and look away far too often for it to be just coincidence. Not one day will go by where you will ever feel alone, unless you let yourself forget how many of us are here, in this exact same place, feeling exactly the same way.
Public Transportation
Remember before you moved into the city? I do; sitting in traffic, feeling the road rage bubbling up within the serene exterior; hating complete strangers solely based on their driving abilities – or lack thereof. Not anymore! Now I can comfortably walk to my train, sit and read whatever novel I’m currently enthralled in, and before I know it, I’ve reached my destination; and I’m surprisingly less tense than when I left my house. Don’t like to read? Take a nap, listen to music, draw, chat with strangers, meditate. It doesn’t matter – you’re not driving! It’s so liberating knowing that not only are you contributing to the reduction of dangerous gas emissions, but you’re also reducing your own stress, and lets face it, probably a bunch of other drivers’ stress as well.
No Shortage of Activity Options
New York makes exploring infinitely easier than Miami ever did. You can step outside and walk a few blocks to the closest subway station, and take that to wherever. You exit the station and realize you are in a new playground, park, neighborhood you’ve never seen. There are endless things to be exposed to – whether it’s street performers, beautiful architecture, or the many different faces of the NY residents. Are you hungry? Walk out of your apartment and practically run into a halal, fruit, or waffle vendor – not to mention the infinite array of reputable restaurants. Thirsty? Walk to the corner and you’re in a market, pub, or bodega. Not only are there countless entertainment options for adults, but there are so many things for kids to do in this city, as well.
In my neighborhood alone, I have found over 10 playgrounds, only by walking a few blocks — all of them complete with some sort of water feature – automatically making it a free water-park. Everything is infinitely cheaper than the activities we’d find in Miami. The Central Park Zoo, for example – albeit small by comparison to some of the major zoos – is less than $20 for one adult and one child, together; while the Metro Zoo in Miami was over $30 per adult. The Natural History Museum has suggested prices, but if one is on a budget, they make whatever contribution they can afford and have access to 4 floors of amazing exhibits. Every weekend there’s a street fair, farmer’s market, musical event, that you can just stumble upon while out and about; and although I have yet to experience much of the night life, I can say with certainty that there is a richness and availability in nighttime-NY, that surpasses any night-owl’s expectations.
Art and Music Everywhere
Are you having a particularly uncultured week? Have you been watching mind numbing television, and reading celebrity gossip while listening to the latest Miley Cyrus single? Do you want to feel a little less trashy and a little more classy? Just go outside. There is art and music all over this wonderful city. The Time Square subway station alone is a smorgasbord of musicians; from your traditional acoustic guitar, to your eclectic 5 piece jazz band – even the occasional pan flute ensemble makes an appearance. You have your acappella groups, solo singers, and rap artists all interrupting the silence of hurried people rushing to and from work — and that’s just the Time Square station. Head over to Central Park and walk along the Central Park Mall to see numerous artists drawing/painting/spraying – their amazing works displayed for sale at a very reasonable price. Hear the sultry sound of an alto sax as you cruise toward Bethesda Terrace. Pass underneath and find yourself in the most flawless acoustical atmosphere – not to mention beautiful – being used as an outlet for the greatest on-the-spot opera you’ve ever heard. Oh and did I mention the violins? You can’t help but fall in love with this city – just let it serenade you.
Seasons
I grew up in eternal summer. Sure we had “winter” – as in, break out that parka you never wear because the weather man says it’ll be 40°F out – but we didn’t really experience anything akin to fall or even spring. Our trees never changed colors or beautifully blossomed after hibernating for months – heck, our trees are mostly palm trees. Palm trees are great, don’t get me wrong, but after 20 odd years of seeing palm trees every day look exactly the same way, they tend to get pretty boring. The only time palm trees get exciting, is when we have a hurricane and one has fallen over onto a house/car/electrical wire.
Miami has a lot more grass, I’ll give you that, but New York definitely has more color. I’m a fan of green, but there’s something about seeing those leaves go from their usual hue, to the bright oranges, yellows, and reds, that just takes my breath away. Maybe it’ll get old after I have a few autumns under my belt, but I don’t see how. That’s the beauty of seasons. Just when you’re starting to feel that maybe you’ve had enough of the heat, a breeze blows by which reminds you that the cold is just around the corner. A corner which I’ve come to discover, is dreaded by most New Yorkers – but I love it. I love layering up my sweaters and coats, and stepping outside, practically sweating because I’ve layered too much, but feeling that freezing wind on my face and knowing that in single digit temps, more is always better — and don’t get me started on snow.
I’m obsessed with watching the snow fall. It’s so calming – so elegant – so magical. Sure it gets annoying having to trek through multiple inches of snow day in and day out, potentially slipping on ice; but remember, it doesn’t last forever. Just when you’re starting to feel like you’ve had enough of the snow, it begins to melt and eventually, disappears altogether; and just like that first magical snowfall, which fills everyone with child-like wonder for the beauty of nature and the impending holiday season, you experience the novelty that is that last snowfall in late March or early April – even more magical than the first because you know this’ll be the final time you see it for another eight or nine months. Then comes spring. It’s amazing to me, how everyone habitually begins planting their buds the minute the weather is remotely right. The white barren world of winter is wiped away by a colorful assortment of fragrant flowers. Seemingly overnight, trees begin to blossom and bloom in the most beautiful way; covered in little puffs of flowers – which from a distance, resemble little balls of cotton decorating all of the once naked branches. I never even knew trees could look like that. I’m experiencing my first spring in New York, and I can’t decide whether it’s the city or the season that I love.
Opportunity
The number of staffing agencies looking to place valuable employees with the right employer is just astounding. If you know where to go, you can have numerous job opportunities in a matter of days. Sure not everyone has the best resume, but these people are paid to get you hired. They don’t even ask anything of you – just that you dress accordingly, and probably change around the format of your resume a bit so that you don’t highlight that decade old award you received in college that isn’t anywhere near relevant to the career you’re looking to pursue. They followup with you like your mother calling to make sure you’re eating okay and getting enough sleep – you know it’s for your own good, but if you fail to focus on the positive, it can get a little overwhelming. That’s how much these people want to get you hired. If you’re a hardworking, intelligent person, you should have no trouble finding a good paying job in this city that only wants you to thrive.
